Struggle is something that everyone has to face in theirlife but beneath the surface of struggle, there is always beauty yearning tobreak free.

Cal State Fullerton junior Sam Pimentel seemingly hasn’t hadto face much struggle on the cross country trails. So far this season, Pimentelhastwo top 10 finishes including a first place showing at the season-openingMark Covert Invitational. He’s been one of the top runners for one ofthe mostimproved squads in the Big West, resulting in a regional ranking for the firsttime in recent memory.

The way Pimentel runs you’d think that he’s a natural but asa matter of fact, he didn’t even start running until his sophomore year of highschool. Soccer was his first love but it was a friend in his geometry class at KatellaHigh School that persuaded him to try out for the team.

As a kid who liked running, he decided to give it a chance.Pimentel made the team after summer training but his ascension did not comeovernight.

“I wasn’t that good until my senior year and even then I wasonly good in my league. We weren’t bad, but we weren’t the greatest either,” Pimentel said.

Despite some success during his senior year, running at thecollegiate level was actually not on Pimentel’s mind. He had already beenacceptedinto Cal State Fullerton and was ready to move on to the next chapterof his life.

“My coach ran under Coach Elders and she reached out to him.I wasn’t even on his radar so I reached out to him myself as well and met withhim," he remembered.

Coach Elders was honest about Pimentel’s chances, tellinghim that he didn’t think his times would get him on the team but he would lethim tryout. After checking out the times of the Titan runners, Pimentel wasinitially worried that they would leave him in the proverbial dust.

“I had a month before the tryout and I wasn’t even runningbefore then. But I was thinking what do I have to lose? I gave it my all,” Pimentel said.

Thanks to his attitude and some encouragement from theFullerton staff, Pimentel made the team and hasn’t looked back. He hopes tolead theteam to a top half finish at the Big West meet and hopes to makeNationals before he graduates.

But it hasn’t been easy reaching this level for Sam. Infact, struggle has been a constant theme in his life…even if those around himcan’t see iton the surface.

“No one ever sees my struggles. Only my siblings and I knowwhat I’ve gone through. People don’t see the other side of me,” he said.

Pimentel was born in Mexico, the second-oldest of fourchildren. When he was young his parents separated and the four children alongwith hismother Benita had to adjust to a new life. It wasn’t easy for thefamily…mom had to work constantly to support the kids but Sam always felt loveand never felt neglected.

“Growing up I saw my mom struggle a lot and I had to take itin…she put herself out there for us and worked really hard,” Pimentel said.

The family’s journey to the United States brought them toAnaheim and also delivered a new title to Pimentel…Dreamer. He is enrolled intheDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. His motivation comesfrom the doubts that people may have about him to succeed.

“Being a minority, it’s hard to see people like me and be a positive image forother people like me,” he said

Pimentel is realistic. He knows that there are many outthere that have it worse than he does. Ultimately what he shares with them isanuncertain future. Something he acknowledges as a sobering reality.

“I would love for my family to have money, be comfortableand for me to be successful. But I also don’t know what may happen to me and usintwo years. I could be chasing a dream that isn’t possible anymore,” he lamented.

With everything going on around him, you couldn’t blamePimentel to succumb to the fear of the struggle. The beauty of him is that heusesthat fear as a motivating tool to control the things around him that hecan and to show others to do the same.

“I’m going to prove this guy wrong that is against me and mypeople…show everyone that we can do it and we are not bad people…that we arehere to succeed,” said Pimentel, who finished eighth overall in his most recent outing at the Highlander Invitational.

Pimentel still believes in the dream of upward mobility. Heyearns to make a better life for his family and himself, while believing in thevalue ofhard work that his mother instilled in him. He is fearful but hopeful.He struggles but he shines. If he is the one to show people it’s possible to besomething greater, he is willing to put that burden on his young shoulders.

“Growing up I’ve always seen myself as an outsider due to mystatus. I have figured out I am not alone…we are in this together. You are not alone."